'I don't like them red': Martha Stewart stuns style set by admitting she paints soles of her Christian Louboutin heels BLACK

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UPDATED:

15:11 GMT, 18 October 2012

For many woman, much of the appeal of Christian Louboutin heels is in the dramatic flash of red on the sole.

However Martha Stewart has admitted that she is not a fan of the label's signature, and uses black paint to obscure it.

The media mogul, 71, told InStyle: 'See the soles I paint them black.'

Paint it black: Martha Stewart covers the red soles of her Christian Louboutin heels because she doesn't like the colour

Explaining the unlikely practice, which might be considered sacrilege by many fashionistas who covet the $700+ shoes, she continued: 'I don’t like them red, even though they’re his trademark.'

But through the legendary French cobbler is famously protective over the red sole trademark – he sued YSL for using red soles on its red pumps, sparking a series of counterclaims which this week were finally dropped – it seems he doesn't object to Ms Stewart customising his designs.

'He doesn’t mind,' she said. 'He said it’s okay if I do that – I asked him!'

Ms Stewart, whose empire is worth $638million, was speaking yesterday at her inaugural American Made event.

It saw Grand Central Terminal's Vanderbilt Hall turned into a hub of crafts, croissants and conversation with experts in the areas of gardening, decorating, cooking and fashion.

'Mr Louboutin doesn't mind. He said it’s okay if I do that – I asked him!'

In a session called The Makers of American Fashion, Ms Stewart did a one-on-one interview with J Crew CEO Millard Drexler, and then led a panel discussion with Calvin Klein, Tory Burch and Ralph Rucci.

As the grande dame of the home, Ms Stewart said what she brought to the fashion table is an ability to sew, an affinity for design and a desire to promote American-grown talent.

The talent in question seemed to agree that the success of the industry lies largely with new ideas and the customers who will embrace them.

Right now, everything looks too similar, said Mr Drexler: 'It's a broken record around the world.'

It's the person willing to be a 'contrarian' that will leave the biggest impact, he said.

'In business, you must stay creative,' Mr Klein added. 'If you give people what they will want, your business will grow.'

Ms Burch, who in eight years has grown from a kitchen-table idea into a global brand, said she takes inspiration anywhere she can get it: art, music or a book, for example. But she also has to keep regional trends and taste in mind.

There's a big divide between Brazilian bathing suits with very little fabric and the covered-up customs in the Middle East, she said.

Power players: In a session called The Makers of American Fashion, Ms Stewart did a one-on-one interview with J Crew CEO Millard Drexler

The goal, according to Ms Burch, is balance.

Mr Rucci made the case that being a well-rounded person makes him a better designer, and that fashion doesn't operate in a total vacuum. For him, painting is 'my trap door'.

On the practical side, though, Mr Drexler said price is a factor in long-term success.

'As a kid, I realized you can never afford everything you want,' he said.

'Calvin (Klein) and Ralph (Lauren) were it, but they were more expensive than I thought it should be. No offense. But I didn't think good taste should cost more.'